Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel opens with a high-stakes prison bus escape but quickly transitions into a quieter story of healing and community. Did this blend of thriller and contemporary Southern fiction feel successful? How did the pacing of Leigh’s journey resonate with you?

2. How does this novel compare to Terah Shelton Harris’s other works, Long After We Are Gone or One Summer in Savannah? If this was your first book by Harris, has it made you want to explore her other writing?

3. In the Prologue, Leigh draws a distinction between “surviving” and “living.” Now that you’ve finished the book, how does the novel portrays this difference? Did her journey change your own perspective on this idea?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Leigh’s found family on the Flower Farm is built on shared histories of trauma and a commitment to mutual care. What does the concept of a “found family” mean to you? Which people have provided that role in your life, and what effect has this had on you?

2. Jackson introduces Leigh to “grounding,” the practice of walking barefoot on the earth to feel more present. Are there any specific practices or places that help you feel centered and connected to the present moment? In what ways does this impact positively on your feelings and behaviors?

3. Leigh starts a private list of things she likes in order to rediscover joy after years of focusing only on survival. What things would be on your list, and why?

4. Thinking about Jackson’s dream to create a flower farm cooperative, have you ever been part of an effort to build or revitalize something in your own community? What made the project meaningful, and what were the challenges?

5. Tibb guides Leigh toward yoga and meditation, suggesting that these practices can be a “mirror” for confronting what’s inside. What tools and approaches have worked for you in seeking self-knowledge and self-acceptance? How have these helped?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The Alabama Black Belt, and specifically the community of Gee’s Bend, is the real-world setting for the fictional story. How does the specific setting, with its history of systemic poverty, racial disenfranchisement, and cultural perseverance, shape your reading of Leigh’s personal journey?

2. The novel touches on the idea of being legally invisible, as Leigh has no birth certificate or government records for much of her life. How does the novel explore contemporary debate around identity, citizenship, and social acceptance/recognition?

3. Leigh’s conviction for manslaughter stems from a traumatic event where there were no surviving witnesses to corroborate her story. How does her experience comment on the challenges survivors face within the legal system, particularly when their truths are complex or difficult to prove?

4. Consider how women and their experiences are portrayed in the novel. How does Leigh’s gender shape her experiences and responses compared to, say, the male survivors at the Flower Farm?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does the novel present the physical body and its functions, including health, physical work, pain, pleasure, food, and sexual intimacy. How does this support the book’s presentation of emotional healing?

2. Jackson, Tibb, and Luke represent a form of healthy masculinity that contrasts with Leigh’s father and Deacon Ridley. Discuss how the novel constructs this alternative masculinity. How does is support its narrative development and themes?

3. How does the novel use the parallel between Leigh’s mother and Carly Sutterfield to explore patterns of behavior? Use close, comparative analysis of language to support your answer.

4. How did Leigh’s narratorial hindsight shape your reading of her journey? Did this narrative frame change your predictions of what would happen? Were you correct?—And why do you think this was?

5. Leigh finds refuge and healing in the natural world, similar to Kya in Delia Owens’s Where the Crawdads Sing. How do the two novels compare in their portrayal of nature as a sanctuary and in how each protagonist ultimately relates to the outside community?

6. The tornado that destroys the farm is a critical turning point. In what other ways does the novel employ climatic imagery and devices, such as pathetic fallacy, to create atmosphere and support the themes?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The culturally iconic Gee’s Bend quilts feature in the novel. Imagine you are designing a quilt to represent Leigh’s story. What colors, fabrics, and patterns would you use and why would you choose these?

2. If you were invited to a Bonfire at the Flower Farm, what dish would you take and what personal story would you share? How do you think the community would respond to your contribution?

3. Imagine a flower or plant that Jackson and Leigh could cultivate on the rebuilt farm to symbolically represent their relationship. Describe its characteristics and explain why its appearance, needs, or life cycle reflect their shared journey.